The day with dianne Louise

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. 2 Peter 1:3‭-‬4 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/2pe.1.3-4.MSG The promises of God are terrific! When we trust Him completely amd push Him to answer our requests, in faith, He does and is delighted to do so. Our God loves it when we trust Him and call Him out, in faith. He reminds me of a human father who delights in his children. I see His smile and love it! He is so good and worthy to be trusted. Amen!

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.1.3.NLT If you have ever bought flat pack furniture, you know the fun of finding all the parts and following the minimal instructions, and this is only for furniture that will last a few years. Our lives usually last for 70 plus years and we desperately need instructions in how to deal with all that is flung at us: sickness, accidents, family devastations, financil strains and now a global pandemic.  The scripture above tells us we have been given instructions and they are found within scripture. We are very fortunate that scripture is readily available. For centuries it was not written for the ordinary men and women to access and only the learned few had access to it. They would then have had to find a way to meet that per...

The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the Messiah, who then puts everything right for those who trust him to do it. Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying? The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. Tha...

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 AMPC https://bible.com/bible/8/rom.10.9.AMPC I chose this version because I wanted to highlight what believing really means. In some versions it seems to imply saying Jesus is Lord and 'yes, basically, I agree God must have raised Him from the dead', is enough. It isn't enough. When I was 18 and looking at the difference between my shining face friends and me,  it was not whether we believed the same thing, or even said the same thing about Jesus. I had grown up a devout catholic but the spark was missing. I needed a revelation of Jesus I didn't currently have, it had to go to the core of my being, that Jesus was all I needed, I could not bring anything at all, apart from my faith in Him. I did find the revelation, but first I had to see my sin, not my own goodnes...

You took away Your people’s guilt; You covered all their sin. Selah Psalms 85:2 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/psa.85.2.HCSB Today I had a traumatic experience that brought back memories I wanted to forget. In 2013 I had a close encounter with death as my car failed at a speed pf 100kms per hour. It was found to be a gearbox problem and took 6 weeks to repair. It again failed a few years later, fortunately not at high speed. Last week my car was recalled for an airbag refit. When I arrived the service depatment told me they were going to check my gearbox. I was surprised as it was working fine. After the service the car failed acceleration and showed me something was wrong. The next time I drove it warning lights flashed on the dashboard. Today, at my insistence the car was examined. I was told the fault was not the mechanics problem and was going to be charged several hundred dollars. I called my own mechanic and he went to war for me. An hour later he called to say: no cost and you ...

You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins. Interlude Psalms 85:2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.85.2.NLT There are times in life when we have done what we consider the unpardonable and expect rejection because of it. Others may reject us but God doesn't. What sort of love is that? Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and goes on: Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins (Romans 3:24). If all have sinned, who are we to say who is not acceptable and begin a grading process, when God says: all sin is sin. Forgiveness is waiting for us, all we have to do is ask for God to forgive and cleanse us and deliver us from our sin. He is always there, waiting. You are not God and therefore unable to counsel Him on the unforgivability of your sin. Why not turn to Him and ask! He is waiting!

But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life , eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 6:22‭-‬23 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.6.22-23.MSG I like the way this version says: work hard for sin your whole life, and your pension is death. Imagine attaining pension age only to find, no joy, no hope, no future but penury. This is how those who have  come to the life's end experience the reality of eternity. We can scoff and ignore warnings, but the day comes when we must face reality. Eternity without God will be hell. Thr enemy who deceived you into to following your own lusts and desires, and living for you, will have his gloves off. We see brutality depictes in movies and at times i...

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/rom.6.23.HCSB The wages for working, usually, is money or some for of remuneration. The wages for being slack and not working is hunger. However, in many modern western societies, some countries have a payment that here in Australia we call the dole. It is supposed to be for the poor who struggle to find work. I digress! We agree wages are usually earned. Paul, in this scripture, is telling his readers, the Romans, that working for self is death, and accepting Christ and the resultant works of grace are eternal life. If we live for self we do not die naturally, immediately, but rather spiritually. Eternity is where we all end up. It depends on whether we accepted Christ as to whether we have eternal life or eternal death. As eternity is for a long time, it is wise to choose well. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/rom.3.23.HCSB The glory of God is something special. It is something we can experience in our own life. Yet, outside of God's family, it is not available. Belong to the family is found purely in accepting Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord. Walking in relationship with God sees God's glory turning up in our lives. What does it look like? Amazing grace, amazing blessing and amazing gifting that defies logic. However, we cannot claim this glory as our own doing as it belongs to God. Therefore, we can see why the scripture says, sin cuts us off from God's glory. Sin is selfishness and refusal to accept Jesus' sacrifice, claiming self-righteousness as good enough. Sorry! Here the glory departs! Sin is not the right currency!

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:22‭-‬24 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.3.22-24.NLT We all fall short of God's sinless and holy being. Yet we are draw to Him, we want to know a God who heals, and saves us from the demons that harry us. To come close we need to be made right and we are offered one way, Jesus Christ. Jesus was the acceptable sacrifice. He lay down His life to make a way for us. His sacrifice was so acceptable that God raised Him from the dead and seated Him in heaven with Himself. Sin is real, it is own inability to be perfect, it is to miss the mark. None of us, no matter how good, is perfect. We are unable to love as He loves, and therefore are sub...

But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 2 Timothy 3:14‭-‬17 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/2ti.3.14-17.MSG I love the verse that says: through the word we are out together and shaped up for the task God has for us. My grandchildren love Lego. I quite enjoy it as well. I can sit down in front of a mess of bricks and see what I want to build, and then build it. God sees what He wants to build us into, sits down and gets to work. When I use Lego I love glass and lots of windows, I use as much as I can fi...

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.16.NLT God wastes nothing, He used all that is written to teach us something about Himself or His ways, and finally about ourselves. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing through bone and marrow, revealing the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12,13 God has to be the master-planner. As God He has a purpose to perfect us into the image of His Son. This is His ultimate goal. Mine should be likewise.  Yield to Hin!

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. Luke 6:35‭-‬36 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.6.35-36.MSG If God turned away from us, we would be most desperate. Yet, He sent His Son to pay the rescue fee, once and for all. I am so grateful that the love of God did not become fickle when it came to me. So...grateful! Just as our saviour did not despise the shame of the cross we need to not despise the cost of winning the lost. Amen!

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:36 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.6.36.NLT Compassion was an attribute that Jesus exhibited, He healed with compassion. Smith Wigglesworth, the great evangelist and healer, in the early 1900's said; get compassion because you need compassion for the sick to see them healed. What is compassion? It is not just pity but a deep healtfelt love and desire for good for another person. Compassion is the seedbed of miracles. I have experienced compassion, it is the stuff intercession is made of as well. Compassion leads to answered prayer. Amen!

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.15.NLT Being ashamed because we are discovered with wrong work practices is very humiliating. If we do not humble ourselves and seek the truth, it will hit us in the face. Scripture tells us that everything done in secret will be revealed. We may deceive ourselves but the truth catches up with us. It is better to walk in truth. Amen!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.17.NLT A new chance in life is what many want. The disillusionment with things as they are becomes a burden, and the desire for a fresh start is enticing. Yet, nothing compares with new life, in Christ. Anyone who has made the transition knows what I am referring to. The entrance to new life in Christ is repentance and subsequent cleansing forgiveness. Nothing beats that cleansing flow. To know the old is completely done away with and the new begins is overpowering. It defies logic, and cuts to the very heart of why we are here. We are God's workmanship, created to live a life with and through His power working in us. We are blessed to be a blessing. Start today! Be blessed, and then go and share your blessing with others. Amen!

Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking . If you have anything against someone, forgive —only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.” Mark 11:22‭-‬25 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/mrk.11.22-25.MSG God's word is 'yes' and 'amen'. If God be for us who can be against us? Our God will bring all things together to the planned end He has in mind for us. We need to stand our ground, and trust Him! Amen!

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.  But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. ”Mark 11:24‭-‬25 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.11.24-25.NLT We can have faith to move mountains but without love, what have we accomplished. If we carry bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness in our hearts we undo ourselves. Being great in the kingdom of God is living out of love and forgiveness, just as our heavenly Father does. When we stand face to face with our Father, the truth of what we did with what we have been given will matter more. I love faith, love walking in faith but I love my God more and walking in His love and forgiveness. Amen!

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. 1 John 4:17‭-‬18 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/1jn.4.17-18.MSG The love of God is like light. When you open the blind it spreads and fills that space. There is no room for anything else. Fear is small but has a loudspeaker and makes a lot of noise. It boasts amd makes false claims. You might say it has clever marketing going for it. Just as a marketer knows how to promote without a foundation of truth, so does fear. It is the Christian's job to discern the lie amd reject it. If you refuse to comply, and command it to leave, it will. Don...

There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 1 John 4:18 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/1jn.4.18.HCSB Why are we unable to commit to relationships? Why are some more drawn to the opposite sex, why are we distrustful of God? One pf the most glaring reasons is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse frightens women from healthy relationships because those they trusted abused them and they don't know how to trust again. I have also noticed that women who have been abused by men then turn to women who have not abused them for love. What about God? The abused often blame God for not intervening and saving them when they were young. This is a hurdle that has to be resolved to find healing. Only God can heal the damages. I had a problem with bullies not sexual abuse. I seemed to regularly pick up bullies and it created a fear of trusting. I had to let God in to heal me and show me the truth....

Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn’t bother being Christ’s slave. Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. I didn’t receive it through the traditions, and I wasn’t taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:10‭-‬12 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/gal.1.10-12.MSG Paul was definitely not afraid of speaking direct truth. He lived to serve Jesus Christ and called a spade a spade. Here he makes this plain. Our loyality is always tested when faced with an opportunity to make ourselves appear benevolent, wise or kind. Self-aggrandizement is very tempting, especially when we are making new friends or defending a position. Personally, I know I must seek the Holy Spirit's help in this area. Ego is a nasty beast, and one I must defeat.

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.Galatians 1:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.1.10.NLT I have had to examine myself to see if I were a people pleaser at times, especially when I find myself anxious over performance. We all want to be well thought of, but living for praise and adulation from people is ridiculous. Jesus Himself did not commit Himself to the crowds because He knew the heart of man. On one day they were shouting: "Hosanna to the king", the next, "Crucify Him"! We see this in our own sports media. One day a player is a star then next booed off the field. If the hearts of mankind are so fickle why do we bother? There is One who does not change, His name is Jesus! Forever the same, forever faithful, forever influenced by the opinions of my enemy or others. His love is always the same. Amen!

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” Matthew 4:4 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/mat.4.4.MSG Hebrews tells us: God's word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, cutting though bone and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts amd intentiond of the heart. Hebrews 4:12. The word of God is the best foresic tool ever. Nothing is hidden from God. We make think we have things covered but He sees. Jesus said we cannot live without the word of God. For Him, it was more important than food, and he hadn't eaten for 40 days. If He would not trade it, neither will I. Amen!

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”Matthew 4:4 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.4.4.NLT This scripture is Jesus' reply to the temptation of the devil to turn rocks into bread. This scripture comes from Deuteronomy 8:3. Moses spoke these words in the context: God humbled you by letting you grow hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you amd your fathers had not known, so that you would learn that man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  Moses was speaking to the Israelites . Jesus knew His scripture and knew how to use it, just as we must also know it to defend ourselves against the enemy of our soul. Knowing our God's words are a most important lesson for us, as the word of God speaks about who we are in Christ. It will save us better than a meal of bread or anything we highly prize or desire. Read the word! Digest it!

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Romans 12:20‭-‬21 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.12.20-21.MSG Doing the opposite to that which is expected floors people ready for a fight. It takes strength to rise above offence, anyone can fight back. Do you want to give God an opportunity to work a miracle? By not reacting and going one step further, generously blessing, God has the ingredients to move. Try it!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:17‭, ‬21 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.17-21.NLT When wrong is done to us, perhaps when a person cuts you off in traffic or takes the last bag of toilet paper (pandemic joke), we instinctively want to yell, react or pay back the wrong. Paul tells us that this instinct is wrong. Between the two verses above is a discussion about whether we should pay back or let God pay back. God says: vengeance is mine! That sounds rather final does 't it? It is! It is obvious that this park is not for us to walk in. When we go there we collect demons of offence, bitterness, hatred, anger, resentment like a bunch of black balloons that will not leave is alone. Touch one of them and the rest follow, like sticky paper you are unable to remove them easily. God is not likewise affected. This is why He says: "leave it to ...

Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. Psalm 51:1‭-‬3 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/psa.51.1-3.MSG When the revelation of sin is made plain, nothing beats the cleansing flow once repentance has been given. I still remember coming to Christ. I had such a revelation of my guilt, and shame. However, a good friend showed me the scripture that told me, God is faithful, and just, to forgive all my sin. What a release! Even now, when God uncovers unknown sin to me, the joy awaits after repentance. He is good!

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. Psalms 51:1‭-‬2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.51.1-2.NLT We may not like to confront the fact that we sin, but if we refuse to acknowledge sin, we cannot find forgiveness or the joy in repentance and the cleansing it brings. As a new creature in Christ I have been given a new nature that is not inclined to sin. If I walk in this new nature and faith towards God I do not sin. However, if I am walking close to the Lord He reveals things that are sinful and I did not realise I did. Once revealed I can ask forgiveness and help to walk differently. Dont be aftaid to have sin revealed in your life, Jesus is just setting you free. Scripture tells us: he who the Son sets free is free indeed. Amen!

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.13.1.NLT The difference between a noisy gong and a loving dog is huge. We all know that most dogs are loving by nature. It is the treatment that we give them that moulds their temperaments. We are responsible for loving someone, if not family or friends, then neighbours. Love is patient and kind, not selfish or boastful, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It never ends. To love like this we need help. That is why being connected to the vine helps. Jesus said He was the vine and His Father the vinedresser. We are the branches. (Good analogy) Stay plugged in! Amen!

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.1 Corinthians 13:1 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/1co.13.1.MSG Two words: rusty and rustic. They both evoke images. One may even be found in the other. 'Rustic 'evokes warm feelings about country cottages, farmlands and the other 'rusty' could well describe the gate to the farm or farmhouse. However, both are very different. You may well remember the book series by Laura Ingles Wilder: Little House on the Prairie. These books went a long way in evoking warm feelings about the word rustic. Having grown up in the country I can relate. I can also relate to the rusted gates hinges that creak and squeal as you open the gate. It bady needed oiling. Our love can be either of these two words: rustic or rusty. We can be welcoming or repelling. Selfishness makes us repugnant, selflessness makes us the light at the homestead on a dark night. Daily, we must spend time wi...

What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Philippians 2:12‭-‬13 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/php.2.12-13.MSG Be energetic in your life of salvation! Wow! This is not a cruise but rather a business to bring souls into the kingdom. We cannot be lazy and indulgent towards our flesh. We did not see Jesus taking a holiday in three years. He did visit the family, but was always at work ministering about the kingdom of God. Lets seek our mandate. It is waiting for us to take it up! Amen!

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.13.NLT God is at work in us, as we respond, and walk in faith His ways are perfected in us. This scipture is placed in the midst of instructions by Paul how to live a Godly life. Paul goes on to say: do everything without grumbling and arguing. Ha ha! Does he know mankind or not? Grumbling is something the children of Israel were accused of, and Moses had a very hard time with their petulance. Perhaps Paul is likewise struggling with the Christians. Right now, if our eyes are on our circumstances we could grumble. A year of isolation, lockdown, loss of work, unable to attend church gatherings over 100 whist football stanldiums are back on, and the list goes on.  We need to find God and link in with what He is doing. Amen!

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God ! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God ’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬12 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.3.5-12.MSG Trusting God has its rewards. Allowing Him to be God brings huge benefits. His presence, comfort, joy and provision follows you. Let go and trust! Amen!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.3.5-6.ESV Trusting in the Lord requires singleness of focus, trust and determination not to look to the right or left. Whilst all of the enemy's focus is to distract you. The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not wandered from Your precepts.(Ps 119:110) I liken the process to that of a tightrope walker. The walker must keep eyes focused ahead to where they are going, no matter what noise is made around in the environment. To allow distraction invites a fall. This is the case for the Christian. There are plenty of yawing pits and caverns waiting for the unsuspecting. It is not a walk in the park but rather a walk in faith. Anen!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord  forever. Psalm 23:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.23.6.ESV Musicians love fans, fans who follow them on soical media, buy their music and attend their conferences. Yet fans can turn in an instant. By deviating from the expected path, musicians can cause the fans to turn to foes. Jesus found this. However, Jesus had no illusions. Scripture tells us that He knew the heart of man and did not trust Himself to them. Scriptrure tells us that goodness and mercy are following us. I would rather have these attributes of the nature of God following me than anyone else in all creation. The Holy spirit does not try to manipulate us, unlike mankind. Mankind, alway, has its own agenda. Yet with God on our trail we are safe. Amen!

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.23.6.NLT Offence is a tool of the enemy, as he seeks to seperate us from fellowship with chuch, friends and family.  In the scripture above, we see that the goodness of the Lord is following us. Letting this goodness envelop us will keep us in fellowship with God and man. Fellowship is what we need to grow spiritually. We cannot let offence steal our future, for this is its goal. Instead, rebuke it and send it packing. Amen

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.10.31.NLT This scripture comes after Paul was addressing whether or not to eat food offered to idols. Apparently after the food had been offered to idols it was sold in the marketplace. For some this caused them difficulty and so Paul said: if you are invited to dinner, and they tell you the meat was offered to idols, abstain so as to not offend the hosts conscience, but otherwise it was up to the individual.  Remembering that faith is what is important to God, not whether we eat meat or vegetables. Whatever we do must be done in faith. Amen

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31  https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.10.31.NLT This scripture presents a concept we mostly do not entertain. We eat and drink for our own pleasure, we do leisure for our own pleasure, we sleep for our own vitality. What is left? A few minutes a day to talk to God in prayer and perhaps read a scripture. Then, we could say this scripture challenges all we are and do. How do we change? This year, 2020, has given us ample opportunity to take time. Time is something we have had plenty of. We change, mindfully, prayerfully, asking God to help us see and be aware of Him and His kingdom. Holy Spirit I ask you to open my mind to you being in all I do, help me slow down and be aware of You in all things. Amen

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/psa.147.3.HCSB Many things break our hearts, unfortunately most, not all, of them are because we have deficient expectations. We create images amd senarios in our mind, emotionally charged, we think we are being led by the Holy Spirit. However, it is our spirit's lust for power and control that drives us. Feeling euphoric is not being led by the Holy Spirit. We should always be suspicious of euphoria. The Holy Spirit is steady, peaceful and sure. Trust Him!

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.Psalms 147:3 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/psa.147.3.HCSB There is something comforting about being in the hands of capable paramdeics, doctors and nurses, when you have been in a car accident. They know how to minister to your broken body. We can be emotionally and spiritually broken and the One who heals is best is the Lord, God Almighty. I have been broken and He gently, lovingly brought healing to my life. My scars were deep and it took much longer than I would have wanted. However, I am grateful He did not give up on me and I persevered seeking Him. I once worked as a nurse at the Wollongong Hospital south of Sydney, and worked in the orthopaedic ward. It was here I saw long term healing take place. A man who I know had gas bottle fall on him and his back was badly broken. God restored his heart as well as his body. Another man fell from a great hight, landing on his hands amd feet and broke all four. He took a long time to he...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.9.10.ESV Insight is knowing beyond surface knowing. We do not have insight unless we seek it or cultivate it. Insight is not available to foolish people. Proverbs tells us that a fool is only interested in giving their own opinions. They do not want to know truth beyond gut instinct, they trust themselves. Whereas a godly man or woman seeks God's opinion and the deeper truth. Seek insight and understanding! Amen!

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.9.10.NLT Another word for fear, in the context of the scripture above, is respect. This respect is deeper then mental assent or deference in some areas, it is acknowlesgement of God's authority in all areas. He is the basis, the alpha and omega, the source of all truth, there is none beside Him. If we do not find the answer in the bible, perhaps we have failed to understand God's holy nature and misunderstood His mind. He said His ways are higher than ours, His thoughts higher than ours,. To acknowledge this would be a good starting point.  To humbly acknowledge our God has a purer, holier way for us, and seek Him in prayer, leads us to  find the better way. Take time to seek His mind. Amen!

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23‭-‬24 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/psa.139.23-24.MSG The goal is eternal life. We cannot treat any employer the way we treat God, expecting Him to allow our false gods into the equation. Self, money, power and authority are all false gods. All are good if they come from God but if they are where we focus then they can become gods to us. A good test to see if we have another god established is having that very thing removed. Do we fuss? If we do, perhaps we have allowed it to become our focus and consumer of our attention. Come back to your forst love! Amen!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.139.23-24.NLT The Lord does see and know all that goes on in our hearts. Adam found this out in the garden when he thought he could hide from God. The fact that we hide shows loud and clear: there's a problem. Allowing God to see isn't an option for us. We may think we are in control but we're not. This reminds me of little children who attempt to command the way with their parents. Little children do not know what is best for them, and neither do we. Coming openly amd willingly inviting God's presence is a top idea, and has a lot to do with our heart condition. Take time to soften before Him today. Amen!

God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!” Exodus 14:14 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/exo.14.14.MSG When my grandchildren were young and trying to thow a tantrum, my son would say: hands together and be quiet. It is a fact that if you have your hands clenched it is hard to throw a tantrum. Our God is telling us to keep quiet, perhaps because we are prone to complain and bicker. So, listen to Him. Hands together and be quiet and wait. Amen

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.14.14.NLT The above words were spoken by Moses to the children of Israel when Egypt's pharaoh changed his mind on releasing them and chased them with all his army. The Lord did indeed rescue them spectacularly, by opening up the sea for them to pass through. Today, this word can speak to us in whatever we face. Our God is going before us, all we have to do is be quiet and trust Him. Amen!

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.] Matthew 11:28‭-‬29 AMPC https://bible.com/bible/8/mat.11.28-29.AMPC How do we come to find rest? First we need to lay down our way of doing things, pause, seek the Lord and meditate on His goodness. The rush has to be put aside.  Even in my morning devotion I can find myself on a programme and I have to stop, put on worship music and worship thr Lord. The prayer list can wait until I serve my Father first. His view on His word and the ones I pray for is more important. I remember being a new wife and mother, and being driven by a need to clean my house on a set day or set way. I had to find the happy medium. I believe I did. Alway...

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28‭-‬29 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/mat.11.28-29.MSG I know I am ready for a new move of God. I want to see God change hardened hearts, I want to see Him in His glory. I am over same old same old. God's freshness is always welcome and good. I have been in two moves of God and both were stopped by the hardness of men's hearts. I pray the next deals with the hardened hearts. However, the greatest move of God ever was Jesus coming to earth and hard hearts crucified Him and persecuted His followers. There is a rest waiting for us. Let us repent and enter in. Amen!

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26‭-‬28 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.8.26-28.MSG The Holy spirit keeps us present before God. How good is that! Not only did Jesus set us free from sin, He gave us His Holy Spirit who acts on our behalf. No picking and choosing showing favouritism. Any who have faith and who cry out in prayer, He supports and is alongside praying with and for us. If we watch too much TV or social media we become lost and alone. It is not the true picture. Focus on the true picture! Amen

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.Romans 8:26 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26.NLT Thank You Holy Spirit! Thank you for being my comforter, my guide, my counsellor, my friend. Thank you for praying for me. Thank you for interceeding for me. Thank you for always, always being here. I am not alone, You are near. In the quiet stillness, Your voice I hear. In woship You lift a song over me, In praise my hands You raise. In sorrow a warm blanket you become, In anger a cool breeze, the fire is undone. Thank You Lord! Amen!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/php.4.6-7.MSG Pray does change things! Today looked dark and overcast and I was committed to travel some 40kms to spend the day helping a friend. Whilst I did not want to go, I am glad I went. A quick "help Lord!" And I was on my way. I spent the day giving and enjoed it, had good fellowship in an outdoor setting overlooking a river. It was peaceful and refreshing. Praise God! Now I am watch a glorious sunset at home and grateful I went. How I feel is not a good reflection of what God has in store. He has the best planned! Amen!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.6-7.NLT We tend to forget to tell God what we need and then become disappointed when we don't receive. James tells us why we are disappointed: ..you don't have because you do not ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives. (James 4:2,3 my paraphrase) If you are being dealt with unjustly, do you pray for judgement on those who deal with you wrongly? Do you squirm, winge and complain and feel sorry for yourself? Then these are wrong motives. God will deal with your heart first, then possibly your oppressor. However, when we come with a good heart, repentent and humble, God moves heaven and earth for us. We may not see it right away but it is ...

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God , search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” Jeremiah 17:9‭-‬10 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/jer.17.9-10.MSG The Lord sees through the layers to the centre of our being. He sees our motivations, our heart condition and deals with us according to what He sees, not what we want Him, or others to see. It is no use being upset with God because our deception does not work, we only fool ourselves. God is wanting us to be real before Him, He has a plan that works for our good. He does not plot evil. Evil takes our decptions and weaves a web to catch us in. A very clever strategy, and then whispers lies to cover its tracks. Don't be fooled! Face yourself with truth. Amen!

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.17.9.NLT Fortunately God has a plan for the wicked natural state of mankind: And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. Ezekiel 36:26,27 When we come to Christ and recognise our sinful wicked hearts and ask Him in, He comes amd gives us that new heart. When He comes in our old heart dies and our new heart begins to beat, much like a heart transplant. Just as a heart transplant patient needs to learn to live in a new way, so do we. His ways are better, purer and filled with life. Joy is here!

Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love Romans 13:8‭-‬10 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.13.8-10.MSG Life is not about what I want or what I don't have. If I find in myself self-pity for missing out on the latest of anything a slap with a wet fish is in order. This life is not about me and my greed. It is about others and their need for Christ and Christ-centered solutions. Amen!

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.13.10.NLT When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment He answered: love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul and mind and love others as you love yourself. Isn't it interesting that His summation tells us the crux of the matter. If I love God with all I have then I will want to love His creation, mankind just as I love myself. Love of others prevents me from stealing their reputation, their spouse or their goods. Love is the best antidote. Amen!

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Ephesians 6:10‭-‬12 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/eph.6.10-12.MSG A life-or-death fight would be something the gladiators faced daily. To stay alive they would have to win. We are in such a flight against a spiritual enemy. We cannot afford to be lazy or sloppy. Our weapons must be kept sharp at all times. There is no holiday against this enemy! Stay alert! Amen!

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.10-13.NLT Imagine being thrown into a war you did not understand, on a planet you barely knew. You could create a movie about the experience, if you were to survive it. You are in such a place and such a war. I believe the COVID19 has probably brought this home more than ever. Countires are experiencing martial law, riots are ensuing. We are seeing a world at war with itself, blind to the enemy within....

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. James 3:13‭-‬16 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/jas.3.13-16.MSG When self pops us you can feel it, hear it and sense it. It starts to bristle with 'I'm better than her!' 'I could have said that better!' 'I don't need you to tell me, I know!' Self is very good at pride, arrogance, criticism, judgement, anger, resentment and jealousy. They are feel puffed up, offended, bristly. Ask the Lord for insight and understanding and he...

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.3.13.NLT James, the brother of Jesus, challenges our beliefs in what constirutes wisdom. We have many men and women in the world in times present and past who we would say were wise. James tells us to examine this wisdom under the light of this scripture. This process may sift this knowledge and reveal its truth. Doing good work is the evidence. Paul states in 1 Cor 13 that: if I have all manner of knowledge and knew God's secret plans and not love, then I am nothing. Love is evident in action. What I do for others reveals my knowledge of God. It is not what I do in the media, in front of others, it is how I act for justice for the poor, defend the defenceless, the unborn,  and the elderly. These are the acts that count and in what my God delights. Amen!